Coincidence

No words were spoken overnight.

The next day.

Morning.

Xu Qing woke up early. He took off the evil ghost mask from his face, gaining another 480 experience points. He was still quite a ways from leveling up.

After a night of rest, the backlash symptoms from the Blood Curse Beast Taming Technique had completely healed.

"Upgrade Blood Curse Beast Taming Technique."

Xu Qing said.

Hum!

The next moment.

Xu Qing's mind jolted. His consciousness seemed to enter a mysterious space where the passage of time couldn't be felt. He poured all his focus into comprehending and deducing the Blood Curse Beast Taming Technique.

Unknowingly.

Boom!

Xu Qing opened his eyes. A flood of information and knowledge surged into his mind. The Blood Curse Beast Taming Technique had undergone a complete transformation from its original state.

[Blood Curse Beast Taming Technique LV2: 0/20 (This is a blood curse secret technique recorded in a book of scribbles, using a special arrangement and recording method. After mastering this blood curse secret technique, one can condense the 'Beast Taming Blood Curse' to command different beasts. Currently, two beasts can be commanded simultaneously.)]

As you can see.

Just one level up didn't seem to bring about significant changes.

However.

While LV1 Blood Curse Beast Taming Technique could only command one beast, LV2 Blood Curse Beast Taming Technique could command two beasts simultaneously, doubling the quantity.

Of course.

The effectiveness of commanding and controlling had naturally improved as well.

Morning.

Xu Qing left the city again. He headed to White Dwarf Mountain and found the same ant nest as yesterday. Just like before, he began using the ants to gain experience for the Blood Curse Beast Taming Technique.

In a blink.

An hour later.

[Blood Curse Beast Taming Technique LV2: 10/20.]

Ten experience points had been gained.

Xu Qing had killed ten ants and suffered ten backlashs from the Blood Curse Beast Taming Technique. He couldn't take it anymore and had reached his limit, forcing him to return.

After returning.

Xu Qing began practicing Eight Extremities Fist.

[Experience +1]

[Experience +1]

In the evening.

Yu Hu arrived at Xu Qing's residence. Xu Qing continued to teach Yu Hu how to practice Eight Extremities Fist and also inquired about the Shaman Evil Ghost. The Shaman Evil Ghost had not yet discovered anything unusual about Yu Hu.

At night.

Xu Qing began practicing the Thirteen Sword Strikes of Life-Taking in the courtyard.

Time flew by.

In a blink.

Seven days later.

On this day.

Evening.

"Hoo..."

Clang!

Xu Qing quickly sheathed his sword, a faint sword hum erupting. It was getting late. After finishing his practice of the Thirteen Sword Strikes of Life-Taking for the day, he planned to go back and rest.

Seven days.

Firstly.

Xu Qing practiced Eight Extremities Fist day and night.

[Eight Extremities Fist LV7: 455/640.]

"It's almost time to level up."

Xu Qing secretly thought to himself, "It'll probably take another three to four days to level up. By then, with Eight Extremities Fist at LV8, I'm sure I can reach the Transforming Force realm."

[Serpent Evasion Technique (Fragmentary) LV5: 0/80.]

Although Xu Qing had very little time to practice the Serpent Evasion Technique, it was a relatively crucial martial art, so he still raised it to LV5.

It was enough for his needs.

[Azure Hawk Claw Force LV1: 1/20.]

Xu Qing hadn't practiced this martial art at all, nor had he upgraded it. Instead, he'd left it gathering dust. Xu Qing hadn't planned on cultivating Azure Hawk Claw Force into Dark Force yet.

[Thirteen Sword Strikes of Life-Taking LV2: 40/60.]

The Thirteen Sword Strikes of Life-Taking was still a bit short. It would probably take another four or five days.

[Evil Ghost Mask LV10: 1760/5120 (This is a terrifying mask containing an evil spirit, a bizarre mask refined by a shaman who worships ghosts and gods using eighteen living people. The mask devoured the shaman's soul, merged with the resentful souls of eighteen living people, and finally transformed into a Shaman Evil Ghost, granting the Evil Ghost Mask a strange sentience. Not only can it disguise appearances and alter auras, but it can also change the body and form, and even summon the Shaman Evil Ghost.)]

"The Evil Ghost Mask has been raised to LV10."

Xu Qing mused, "Just like before, after the Iron Sword was upgraded to LV10, although it could still be upgraded further, my cultivation was insufficient. If it were to be upgraded, the LV11 Iron Sword would develop true sentience, leading to a situation I couldn't control, and I might even suffer a backlash."

"Even a weapon like the Iron Sword could backlash, let alone a bizarre artifact like the Evil Ghost Mask. If I were to truly upgrade it to LV11, I would definitely suffer a backlash."

[Blood Curse Beast Taming Technique LV4: 20/80 (Originally just a relatively ordinary prerequisite ability for a spell-seal beast tamer, it underwent a significant transformation through repeated deductions. It allows the user to control eight spirit beasts simultaneously and even borrow their power.)]

"These are the changes I've made these past few days."

Xu Qing pondered, "Unfortunately, I still haven't entered the Transforming Force realm, but it's close. It's just a matter of these few days. Moreover, I have enough money, so I don't need to take risks to get more silver. I'll just upgrade slowly."

"Hm?"

Suddenly.

In the very next moment.

Because of the Evil Ghost Mask, Xu Qing had gained control over it, allowing him to sense the Shaman Evil Ghost in the unseen world. And now, Xu Qing sensed the Shaman Evil Ghost's unusual activity.

"Finally exposed?"

Xu Qing said in a deep voice.

Seven days had passed.

In these seven or eight days, Xu Qing had the Shaman Evil Ghost follow Yu Hu. There had been no movement until now. He had even started to think it was his imagination.

It wasn't until tonight that Yu Hu's side finally showed some activity.

"As expected, something's up."

Without hesitation.

Xu Qing put on the Evil Ghost Mask.

Buzz!

The Evil Ghost Mask's ability activated, and Xu Qing's appearance changed. He instantly transformed into a burly middle-aged man carrying a sword on his back.

"Let's go."

Swish!

Xu Qing employed the Serpent Evasion Technique and quickly departed.

It should be known.

The place Yu Chen rented was very close to Xu Qing, less than a hundred meters away. Therefore, Xu Qing arrived in the shortest possible time.

Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!

Inside the house.

Yu Chen and his wife, Wang Cuilan, were still fast asleep. They were even sleeping unnaturally, having been knocked out by a form of illusionary technique.

In another bedroom.

Yu Hu stood up straight. Around his neck, a wooden token floated, emitting waves of demonic mist and dark energy.

In the next moment.

This demonic mist and dark energy condensed within the room into a graceful figure. However, the figure was still quite ethereal, not fully solid, its feet not touching the ground, like a ghost.

Crack!

As this graceful figure condensed, the wooden token around Yu Hu's neck shattered, turning into flying ash that dispersed into the air.

"Hahaha..."

The graceful figure let out a laugh, its voice extremely sinister, with waves of chilling ghostly energy spreading out. "A full eight days, and it took this Demoness this long to absorb all the yin qi from this Extreme Yin Wood."

"As expected of Extreme Yin Wood. Even such a small piece contains such dense yin qi, enough to completely stabilize my Demonic Soul."

Clearly.

This graceful figure was the Blood Demon Desire Woman 'Qing Lian,' who hadn't completely died. The Yamen was also searching everywhere for the whereabouts of the Blood Demon Desire Woman 'Qing Lian,' but they had found no leads.

Who would have thought.

Qing Lian had abandoned her physical body and refined herself into a Demonic Soul. She was on the verge of complete soul dispersion when she unexpectedly encountered Yu Hu. And Yu Hu happened to be wearing a wooden token made of Extreme Yin Wood.

Under a series of coincidences.

The yamen failed to capture Qing Lian, but instead ran into Xu Qing.

"Little Tiger."

Qing Lian licked her lips, sizing up Yu Hu from head to toe, like a hungry wolf spotting the most delicious food, her mouth watering uncontrollably.

"To repay your life-saving grace, this Demon Woman will let you enjoy the ultimate earthly pleasure tonight. Die in my arms amidst boundless ecstasy."

Hum!

As soon as she spoke.

Qing Lian's demonic soul stirred.

The next moment.

Qing Lian was about to pounce on Yu Hu like a hungry tiger.

Boom!

At this critical moment.

Xu Qing had arrived. The Shaman Evil Ghost, having received Xu Qing's command, quickly revealed itself. With a wave of its right hand, it formed a black energy stream, which sent Qing Lian flying.

"Ah!!!"

A piercing scream rang out.

"Who?!"

Qing Lian's expression was filled with terror. She quickly looked around and saw the Shaman Evil Ghost not far away. Her demonic soul was becoming unstable.

"E-Evil Ghost..."

Qing Lian's voice trembled.

"Escape!!!"

Hum!

Without hesitation.

Qing Lian had no intention of fighting. She transformed into a wisp of smoke and quickly darted out of the bedroom, intending to flee outside.

One must understand.

This was a true evil ghost. Unless it was Qing Lian in her prime, she could suppress it. But now, she was merely a demonic soul. Encountering an evil ghost, she could only become its food.

"Evil-Breaking Slash!"

Clang!

Accompanied by the sound of a sword hum.

Xu Qing's gaze locked onto Qing Lian's position. The Level 10 Iron Sword in his hand descended, unleashing an incredibly sharp sword technique.

"!!!"

Qing Lian screamed. Her demonic soul was sliced into two, flying far away. The severed demonic soul slowly began to heal.

However.

The demonic soul's body became even more transparent.

"You... Who are you?"

Qing Lian's pupils contracted. She looked at Xu Qing, especially at the terrifying evil ghost standing respectfully beside him. Her face was extremely grim.

"Demonic Path Ghost Cultivator?"

Qing Lian couldn't help but ask again, "Which sect or school do you belong to? Why are you opposing me? I am the Blood Demon Desire Woman of the Blood Demon Cult. Aren't you afraid of retaliation from the Blood Demon Cult?"

At this critical moment.

Her life was on the line.

Qing Lian had long lost her usual composure. Facing such a situation, she could only announce her affiliation, hoping to scare Xu Qing away and at least give herself a chance to survive.

"You are the Blood Demon Desire Woman."

A hint of surprise appeared on Xu Qing's face as he glanced at Qing Lian. "I didn't expect that the mastermind being sought everywhere in Qingbei Town would be encountered by me."

"Wait a moment..."

Suddenly.

A flash of inspiration struck Qing Lian's mind. She recalled the information Ye Yi had reported earlier, which mentioned a sudden appearance of a sword expert on Hongye Street.

That information matched the person before her perfectly.

"It's you!"

Qing Lian had made a deduction in her heart and had already figured it out. "You are that mysterious sword expert from Hongye Street. Who exactly are you? I haven't offended you from beginning to end."